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Department
of Gerontology web site
http://www.southalabama.edu/gerontology |
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The University of South Alabama offers Certificates
in Gerontology at the Graduate and Undergraduate
levels and an Interdisciplinary Minor in Gerontology.
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| Gerontology
is the interdisciplinary study of: |
| 1. |
the
human life cycle, |
| 2. |
issues
related to aging, and |
| 3. |
the
relationships between the generations. |
|
| The
Gerontology program is designed to establish
an expertise that will enhance and compliment
the analytical skills that the student acquires
as part of the major area of study. This expertise
may be used as preparation to specialize within
the career area related to the student's major
area of study or to pursue further academic
training in graduate or medical school. Special
topics courses and online instruction are available. |
| Depending
on their specific needs and interests, students
may be able to complete requirements for the
Undergraduate Certificate in Gerontology through
distance learning options. Students who are
interested in pursuing the undergraduate certificate
online should speak with their academic advisor
and the Gerontology program director. |
| In order to receive the Gerontology Certificate, the student must submit a completed Data Sheet and Application available at www.southalabama.edu/gerontology. The certificate is not automatically issued without an application. |
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| UNDERGRADUATE
PROGRAM IN GERONTOLOGY |
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| REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE GERONTOLOGY CERTIFICATE |
| Students
who wish to earn an Undergraduate Certificate
in Gerontology must
complete 21 semester hours,
including an internship that will expose the
student directly to older people and their
families. The internship must be approved by
the program director during the semester prior
to placement. Prior to the start of the internship,
students must provide documentation that the
supervising agency assumes liability for interns,
or they must carry their own liability insurance
during the internships. |
| Approved
courses are offered in various departments as
well as in Gerontology. Students are encouraged
to pursue the Gerontology Certificate in conjunction
with degree programs. |
| |
| CORE
COURSES (UNDERGRADUATE) |
| (Required) |
| SY 372, BLY 207 (SY 435 or equivalent may be substituted with permission of Program Director) |
| Select
One |
| AIS
201, AIS 401, PSY 456, PSY 250 (These courses may also be used as electives, if not selected to fulfill a requirement). |
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| INTERNSHIP
(Required) |
| Internship
in Gerontology (GRN 496) or equivalent (for
example, Sociology majors may substitute SY
496 with Director's approval). Internships in other disciplines may be substituted for GRN 496 if the director and the student's academic advisor approve. The placement must provide significant contact with older people, their families or appropriate service agencies. Proof of insurance is required. Three semester
hours required; up to six semester hours may
by accepted. The 3 hour internship requires 100 contact hours; the 6 hour internship requires 200 contact hours. |
| |
| ELECTIVE
COURSES |
| (Select
three) |
Note: Any
required course option that is not chosen from
the list above to fulfill a requirement may be
used as an elective. Other elective choices include: |
| |
|
GRN 290, GRN
490, GRN 494, AIS 301, AIS 425, LS 397, LS 479, PSC 481, PSY 416, PSY 428, PSY 456, PSY 475, SY 435, SY 472, and SY 490.
When the course topic is appropriate for gerontology. Special topics courses and directed studies may be taken as electives for example; EH 492, EDF 490, SY 290, SY 490 and PSC 440. Please note: GRN 290 and GRN 490 are variable topics courses. Check the class schedule each term to determine which topic is being offered. Sample topics include: Gender and Aging; Leadership and Advocacy in Gerontology; Housing and Lifestyle Changes across the Life Course; and Aging and Public Policy. Additional courses may be used as electives, if approved by the Gerontology program director. Students should meet with the program director to discuss specific questions about elective courses. |
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| APPLICATION FOR THE CERTIFICATE |
| Gerontology certificates are not sent automatically to students. The application is available at the Gerontology web site: www.southalabama.edu/gerontology/. An exit interview may be required. Contact the program director at least 6 weeks prior to completion of requirements for the certificate. |
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REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE INTERDISCIPLINARY MINOR IN GERONTOLOGY |
|
The Interdisciplinary
Minor in Gerontology requires 24 semester
hours. It is designed for those Arts and Sciences
majors who are interested in obtaining jobs
in agencies that provide services for older
individuals and their families or in pursuing
graduate degrees that involve research on
aging and intergenerational relationships.
Majors in other colleges may also pursue the
Interdisciplinary Minor in Gerontology, but
should discuss this option with an advisor
from the major field. It is possible to obtain
the Undergraduate Certificate in Gerontology
as part of the Minor, provided all requirements
for the Certificate are met. The same course
may not be used to fulfill requirements of
both a major and a minor. |
| |
| CORE
COURSES (UNDERGRADUATE) |
| (Required) |
| SY
372 |
| BLY
207 Or SY 435 |
| PSY
456 Or PSY 250 |
| Additional course in policy, methodology, or professional ethics. |
| |
| INTERNSHIP
(Required) |
| Internship
in Gerontology (GRN 496 or equivalent). With
permission of the program director and the student's
academic advisor, an internship in the student's
primary discipline may be substituted if the
internship provides significant contact with
older people, their families, or appropriate
service agencies. Three semester hours required;
up to six semester hours may be accepted. Approval
of the internship placement must be obtained at least 6 weeks prior to
registration. The 3 hour internship requires 100 contact hours; the 6 hour internship requires 200 contact hours. Proof of insurance is required. If you plan to substitute an internship from another discipline, you must obtain written approval from the Gerontology Program Director or Academic Advisor prior to registration. |
| |
| ELECTIVE
COURSES |
| (Select
three) |
| Any
required course option that is not chosen from
the list above to fulfill a requirement may
be used as an elective, other elective choices
include: |
| |
| GRN
290, GRN 490, 301, SY 472, PSY 456, PSY 416, PSY 428, PSY 475, LS 397, LS 479, AIS 301, EDF 490, GRN 494, PSC 440, SY 490,
and EH 492 may be taken as electives when the
course topic is appropriate for gerontology. Please note: GRN 290 and GRN 490 are variable topic courses. Check the class schedule each term to determine which topic is being offered. Sample topics include: Gender and Aging; Leadership and Advocacy in Gerontology; Housing and Lifestyle Changes across the Life Course; and Aging and Public Policy. Other electives may be taken from the student's degree discipline with approval by the student's advisor and the Gerontology Director. Content of the elective must include substantial focus on aging. |
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| GRADUATE
PROGRAM IN GERONTOLOGY |
The
aim of this certificate program is to transmit
a core of cognitive knowledge and skills in Gerontology.
Requirements for admission are the same as those
of the Graduate School. Students seeking to obtain
Graduate Certification in Gerontology should either
hold a graduate degree, or concurrently be enrolled
in a graduate program. |
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REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE GRADUATE
CERTIFICATE IN GERONTOLOGY |
| The
Graduate Certificate Program at USA requires
a minimum of seven courses (21 hours) with grades
of "A" or "B", including
Aging in American Society (SY 523) and an approved
internship. It is strongly recommended that students take a course in public policy; a research methods course appropriate to the student's primary discipline and/or gerontology; and a course in professional ethics. All courses not specifically listed in this section must be approved by the Gerontology Program Director and the student's advisor prior to registration for the course. |
| The
Gerontology internship (GRN 596) is required
or an equivalent internship experience within
the student's discipline. The internship must
allow the student to apply skills to work with
older individuals and their families. Research
shows that positive, supportive attitudes toward
aging are best developed through personal involvement
with older people. The skill of applying knowledge
to the problems of the elderly is developed
in experiential learning situations. Therefore,
an internship is required unless the student
demonstrates substantial previous experience
with the client population. In that event, a
directed study or an additional academic course
in aging may be substituted for the internship.
A maximum of six credit hours of internship
and six credit hours of directed study may be
applied toward the requirements for the Graduate
Certificate in Gerontology. The internship must
be approved by the program director during the
semester prior to placement. Proof of insurance is required for the internship. If you plan to substitute an internship from another discipline, you must obtain written approval from the Program Director or prior to registration. |
| All
course waivers and substitutions must be approved by
the program director. The student must work closely
with the director and with the advisor in the
major area of specialization to develop the
best program possible to meet career goals.
Directed studies, special topics courses, and
online courses
may be used to fulfill program requirements
if approved by the director. |
| Following are the courses approved for the Graduate
Certificate in Gerontology: |
| |
| (Required) |
| SY
523 |
| GRN
596 or equivalent |
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| (Elective
Courses) |
CED 564, GRN 594, HSC 524,
HSC 550, PSC 587,
PSY 516, PSY 528, PSY 556, SY 572, GRN 597 |
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| Graduate
level Special Topics courses and Directed Studies
may be taken as electives when the course topic
is appropriate for gerontology. Distance
learning options may be offered for some courses.
Check with the program director for information
about online courses and other distance learning
opportunities. |
| Other electives may be taken from the student's degree discipline with approval by the student's graduate advisor, the Gerontology program director, and the Graduate School (Examples: courses in Advanced Geropsychiatric Nursing and courses in the College of Allied Health Professions where the focus is on aging and age-related health conditions). Students should meet with the Gerontology program director to discuss specific questions about elective courses. |
| Courses
which are taken as part of a degree program
may be considered for credit toward the certificate
provided they are approved by the Director of
the University Programs in Gerontology, the
Director of Graduate Studies in the College
offering the degree, and the Dean of the Graduate
School. In order to receive the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology, you must submit a completed application form. Certificates are not issued automatically. Forms are available on the program web site at: http://www.southalabama.edu/gerontology/. |
| For further information about the program
contact Dr. Roma Stovall Hanks, Director, USA
Programs in Gerontology, HUMB 34, University
of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002;
phone: (251) 460-6020; FAX (251) 460-7925 |
| e-mail:
rhanks@usouthal.edu. |
| web
site: www.southalabama.edu/gerontology/ |
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| APPLICATION FOR THE CERTIFICATE |
| Gerontology certificates are not sent automatically to students. The application is available at the Gerontology web site: www.southalabama.edu/gerontology/. An exit interview may be required. Contact the program director at least 6 weeks prior to completion of requirements for the certificate. |
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